The award winning film “The Ocean: Five Years” airs Thursday July 10 at 8pm on WQED-TV in its broadcast premiere. It won an award at the Three Rivers Film Festival in November 2024. Robert McCutcheon, owner and President of the Vault Recording studio, joins his son Brett McCutcheon, a North Allegheny HS/Slippery Rock University alum and band instructor at Mt. Lebanon HS.
Brett is a young composer whose life was forever changed by the sudden loss of his older brother, Ryan. Channeling his grief, he produced a 5-track EP that is the backbone of this moving 40-minute tribute directed by Jennifer Schlieper of Flying Scooter. Schlieper seamlessly weaves together Brett’s personal video diaries, interviews with family and friends, and footage of musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra who bring Brett’s songs to life.
“The Ocean: Five Years” is an uplifting experience that reaffirms the power of music as an instrument for healing. We all share grief at some point. This conversation suggests resources such as The Caring Place guided by Fred Rogers who makes a cameo appearance.
“The Ocean: Five Years” EP is available on all streaming services, including on YouTube. There will be a repeat broadcast on Friday, July 11th at 4 pm.
You can also listen to Brett’s first interview with Voice of the Arts from 2023 here.